Electric attachment plug



Parental Aug. 22, 195o Z,519,584

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIO ATTACHMENT PLUG Louis Ludwig, New York, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1947, Serial No. 759,652

4 Claims. (Cl. 173-332) This invention relates generally to electrical' connection plugs, and more particularly to electrical connection plugs for connecting pressing irons with a source of electrical energy.

Among the objects of the present invention Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which is operatable by the use of only such simple tool or tools as are usually available to the user.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the plug parts are properly manipulated by persons having relatively little skill.

In the present plug structure the plug is constituted by a plurality of plug body members which are resiliently retained in juxtaposition by the looking element. The Vresiliency of the locking element permits the use of the present plug with a plurality of irons in which a substantial difference in iron terminals is encountered. Thus, the terminals and the body members of the plug may be temporarily displaced With respect to each other while the plug has the contact elements therein in engagementwith said terminals, yet after the plug is removed from the said iron the looking element acts to urge the body members to'their original positions.

Another feature of the invention lies in the An important object of the present invention 40 lies in the coaction between thelocking element and the body members of the plug Whereby the plug body members are maintained in predetermined spatial interrelation without the use of additional alining means.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure Wherein the looking element requires principally the movement of only a single latch element to effect the complete looking.

50 These objects and other incidental ends and advantages-Will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appendedA claims.

In' the drawings, similar reference characters 55 designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an iron plug showing the invention in a looked condition thereof.

Fig. 2 is a partial Sectional view as seen from the plane 2 2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken similarly to Fig. 1 With the looking element removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken similarly to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary Sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the looking element of the invention.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to V6 inclusive, the iron plug is generally indicated by reference character 2h. In a well. known manner the plug may be composed of a plurality of plug body members 2! and 22. While the plug body members are of substantially identical construction for the purpose of clarity in this disclosure, the member 2I may be referred to as a front body member and the member 22 may be referred to as a rear body member. The body members 2| and 22 are of irregular configuration, and as is well known, may be molded of any suitable insulated material such as a synthetic resin of the phenolic type. The plug 2G may be provided with any of the well known types of electrical contact elements I8 and l9.

The body members 2IV and 22 may thus be molded from the same mold and each of the members 2I and 22 has an outer face 23 and 24, an inner face 25 and 1, cord entrance ends 26 and 21', iron prong or contact post receiving ends 28 and 29 and irregularly shaped orifices 30 and 3!, respectively. The particular shape and interwall spacing of the orifices 30 and 3l are correlated to the looking element 32 as will more fully appear hereinbelow.

The looking element, generally indicated by reference character 32, is best seen in Fig. 6, the looking element in said figure having an appearance assumed by the looking element when not under tension and removed from the plug 20. The locking element 32 has a general U shape with laterally directed extensions on the ends of the arms of the U. Thus', the element 32 includes the latch element 33 Which is slideably carried by the latch element carryng portion 34.

As shown, the latch element 33 may be formed by taking a flat blank of suitable material, such as metal and bending it to an annular shape (Fig. the two ends |5 andV IG projecting forwardly and having overhanging terminals !2, !3 and !4, respectively. The lateral bends of said blank form the latch members 35 and 35.

Extending substantially perpendicularly from the ends of the portion 34 are the legs 3l and 33. Extending preferably at an angle of less than 90 from the legs 37 and 38 are the resilient clamping fingers 39 and 40. The tips 4! and 42 of the fingers 39 and 41'! have a sliding action upon the particular surface of the body member 2! or 22 against which they bear, as the case may be. The entire looking element 32 is preferably blanked and formed from a planar strip of resilient material such as spring steel, Phosphor bronze or the like.

Each of the orifices 39 and 3! is preferablv of a width substantially equal to or slightly'greater than the width of the legs 31 and 38 and the portion 34 so that the looking element mav penetrate each of said orifices. In actual practice, the distance between the wall 43 and the wall 44 may be onlv a few thousandths of an inch greater than the distance between the edge 45 and the edge 4G of the locking element 32. The spacing of these parts as shown in the drawings is exaggerated for the purpose of claritv. In order to permit the movement of the looking element 32 and the latch element 33 through the body members 2! and 22 the-lateral opposite walls of the orifices 3!! and 3! are provided vvith grooves 41.1 and 48. The shape of the grooves 4'! and 48 is .correlated to the shape of the lateral extremities of the latch. element 33: that is to say, the latch. members 35 and 36. The outer faces 23 and 24 of the body members 2! and 22 adjoining the walls 43 and 44 near the grooves 4'! and 48 are provided with indentatlons 49 and 59, which are preferablv larger than, but correspond with the shape and size of the latch members 35 and 35 so that when said latch members are fullv seated in the indentations 49 and En. the outermost surfaces of the said latch members are substantially coplanar or slightly below the outermost level of the outer faces 23 or 24,.but the ends IE and !5 are preferablv slightlv above the outer surface 23 (or 24 as the case may be). The indentations 49 and 5'! are located preferablv close to the grooves 41 and 48 since the closer they are to said grooves, the less longitudinal movement of the latchiner element is required in order to properlv make up or dismantle the plug 29. It is desirable, however, that the indentations liwfland 5!! not be so close to the grooves 4'!V and 48 that the abutments orprojections 5! and 52 are of such small size as to undesirably reduce their stability.

The bodv members 2! and 22 from the ends 26-29. inclusive, extend toward' each other into the orifices 3!) and 3!.to form the proiections 53, 54. 55 and 55. Each of the projections '53-56, inclusive, has as resilient finger'engaging surface 51-34, inclusive, resoectivelmand a leg engaging surface 6!-64, inclusive, respectivelv.V

The parts are preferably inter-related in size .and position so that the legs 3'! and 38 mayV have the outer surfaces thereof in slideable contact with the leg engaging surfaces 6 I-54 inclusive. The length of the legs 3'! and 33 is preferably Operation Assuming the parts to be completely disassembled, appropriate conductors (not shown) are connected to the electrical contacts I8 and I 9 and these are seated between the body members 2! and V22 in suitably arranged depressions therefor (not shown) With the plug body mem- A bers in juxtaposition as shown in Fig. 2; At this iii.

such that when the inner surfaces of the latch Y members 35 and 35 are in contact with the innermost surfaces of the depressions 49 and 5%, the tips 4! and 42 only of the fingers 39 and 4!! engage finger receiving surfaces 58 and 60. Thus, when V tools which he has available.

' lines.

point, it is permissible to insert the locking element 32 with the latch element 33 in the grooves 47 and 48 in either of the body members 2! or 22; and likewise it is immaterial whether the finger 39 or the finger 40 is uppermost. Assuming, for the purpose of example, that the latch element 32 is inserted vfirst into the body Vmember 22, the looking element 32 may be moved'to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 when'the tips 4! and 42 contact the surfaces 58 and 69, the portion 34 of the looking element 32 will be positioned slightly'to the left of the location it occupies in Fig. 2. The latching may now be completed in two different ways as best suits the user and the In accordance with the first mode, 'a slender tool such as' a small screw driver is introduced into the oriflces 39 and 35 from the left as seen in Fig. 2, and the ti'p of such screw driver (not shown) may engage the inner portion of the latching element 33 or the inner surface of Vthe portion 34, or both and outward pressure, or to the right as seen in Fig. 2, will serve to make the bends 65, 65, 14 and 15 more obtuse, whereupon .the/latching members 35 and 36 (which are movable enlargements) may pass the projectionsor cams 5! and 52. The said cams are rounded as best seen in Fig. 2, so that the movement of .the latching element 33 is facilitated while the parts are so distorted; as

described.

The other mode of ,operation is best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawingsin which the manipulation of the latching element 33' by a tool, such as the screw driver 9, is seen. In

Vthis mode of operation, thetip 8 of a screw driver or similar flat tool, such as a knife, may be hooked under the terminals |2 and !4 to have a prying action-whichpulls the looking element into a position where the latching element may be moved longitudinally of the plug 29 in the direction of the ends 26 and 21 to produce the desired latching effect. Passage of the latching members 35 and 35 over the projections or cams 5! and 52 is facilitated by their rounded surfaces. The operation just described could involve moving the latching element 33V from the position shown byV the dot dash lines on Fig. 4 to the full As best seen inFigs. 4 and 6, the forward portions of the latching element are intended to provide the overhanging effect of the terminals !!-!4 inclusive, thereby permitting a saving in materialysince the distance between the terminals and !3, and the terminals I2 and '[4 is substantially equal to the width of the rear or inner portion of the latching element.V This enables the fabrication of the part from strip stock without're'ducing the Vstrength of the latching members 35 and'36 where'theyzcoacti with the depressions 49 and 50.

morasse When it is 'desired to disassemble the plug, the latching element 33 is moved downwardly as viewed in Fig. 4, reversing the operations previously described. This may be accomplished either by the screw driver engaging the terminals II and I3, or by inserting the tool through the orifices as previously described.

In each mode of operation, upon release of the external pressure or tension exerted upon the latch element, the resiliency of the fingers 39 and 40 in returning to a position of less strain, retract the latch members 35 and 36 into the indentations 49 and 50.

By virtue of the construction just described it may be seen that the plug body members Zi and 22 may be separated from each other temporarily in order that they may be shifted in position to accommodate an unusual spread of the electrical contacts 18 and I9. Such movement of the body members 2| and 22 away from each other is controlled by the looking element 32 and particularly the flexure of the fingers 39 and 40 about the bends 65, 65, 'M and 15. It is important to note that the body members 2| and 22 may not be rotated about each other about an axis perpendicular to the inner faces 25 or I'I, a very substantial amount. This is so because of the engagement of said body members with the looking element and particularly the legs 31 and 38 thereof. The amount of axial displacement, as described, which may occur will be afiected by the amount of clearance between the edges 45 and 46 of the looking element 32 and the Walls 43 and 44.

Upon a perusal of Fig. 2 in Which the plug 20 is shown in the looked and closed position thereof, it will be seen that Where desired, the looking element 32 may be inserted from the right and moved toward the left so that the latch element 33 may engage the depressions in the body member 22. One of these depressions 61 is seen in Fig. 2.

It may thus be seen that the present plug may be assembled and disassembled rapidly without the use of any special tools and that When in an assembled condition the parts are arranged so as to coact with each other to properly support the electrical contacts and to articulately integrate the plug body members to provide a unitary useful electrical contact plug. In securing the plug body members in assembled relation, no threaded parts are required either in the insulating material of which the plug body members are composed or in specially fabricated threaded metal inserts. IThis results not only in less expensive construction but also in time saving, because no sorews need be inserted and turned or turned to remove. A quick snap action is obtained as the latching element is shifted from the relatively disengaged or open position thereof to the looked position thereof and vice versa.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

l.. An electrical contact plug oomprising: a first plug body member having a first orifice therein, said first plug body member having an interior wall within the orifice Which has a groove therein; a second plug body member having a second orifice therein, said second plug body member having an interior wall within said second orifice which has a groove therein; said orifices being in register to provide a single through opening having a single through' groove; and a looking element having an independently movable enlargement and clamping fingers thereon, said looking element being engageable 'within said walls to maintain said body members in juxtaposition, the clamping fingers and the enlargement Vcooperating therewith, said enlargement in an unlccked position thereof passi'ng along said g'roovesf" said enlargement being shiftable out of alinement With said grooves to a looked position thereof.

2. An electrical contact plug comprising: a first plug body member having a first orifice therein, said first plug body member having an interior wall within the orifice which has a groove therein; a second plug body member having a second orifice therein, said second plug body member having an interior wall Within said second orifice which has a groove therein; said orifices being in register to provide a single through opening having a single through groove; and a looking element having an independently slideable member and clamping fingers thereon, said slideable member having an overall width greater than that of said looking element, said looking element being disposed within said walls to maintain said body members in juxtaposition, the clamping fingers and the enlargement cooperating therewith, said slideable member during the assembly of the plug, moving in an unlooked position therof along said grooves; said slideable member being movable out of alinement With said grooves to a looked position thereof.

3. An electrical contact plug comprising: a first plug body member having a first orifice therein, said first plug body member having an interior wall within the orifice which has a groove therein; a second plug body member having a second orifice therein, said second plug body member having an interior wall within said second orifice which has a groove therein; said body members being of substantially identical construction bordering said orifices, said orifices being in register to provide a single through opening having a single through groove; and a resilient locking element having an independently movable enlargement thereon, said looking element disposed within said Walls to maintain said body members in juxtaposition, said enlargement during the assembly of the plug moving in an unlooked position thereof along said grooves; said enlargement being shiftable out of alignment With said grooves to a looked position thereof on one side of said plug; and means secured to said looking element contaoting the other side of said plug, whereby said means may coact with said enlargement to resiliently maintain said first and second plug body members in mutual contact.

4. In an electrical contact plug: a plug body composed of complemental body members each having an elongated opening therein, said openings being in register to provide a single elongated through opening having opposed interior end Wall portions and opposed interior lateral wall portions; and a resilient looking element having an intermediate portion including leg portions of substantially the same external width as the width of said single elongated through opening, said leg portions being distant from each other an amount substantially equal to the distance between said end Wall portions, said looking element being insertable in said through opening; whereby said complemental body members are maintained in juxtaposition, a movable member engag/ing the intermediate portion of the locking element and one of the body members to hold the looking element in place and the body members together, said locking element lnhibiting substantially all lateral movement and 5 rotation of said body members with respect to each other about an axis extending through said orifices. V

LOUIS LUDW'IG.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Groh'sgal May 21, 1940 Number 

